Authors: ChihLung Hou YiChan Tsai LiChen Chen JingLong Huang
Publish Date: 2007/10/17
Volume: 27, Issue: 5, Pages: 557-563
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus SLE patients had an increased susceptibility to tuberculosis TB The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of TB in SLE patients with focus on the differences between pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB This is a retrospective study that reviewed the medical records of 3179 SLE patients from 1985 to 2004 The diagnosis of TB was confirmed by one of the following positive acidfast bacillus AFB smear positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from appropriate specimens or a histopathologic finding of caseating granuloma on specimen During the 20year review period TB was documented in 19 SLE patients with 21 episodes Ten of 21 episodes 476 were pulmonary TB while the other 11 episodes 524 were extrapulmonary TB Among extrapulmonary TB there were joint and cutaneous involvements in five miliary in two Pott’s disease in two peritoneum in one and spleen in one The most common manifestations of TB were fever and cough Delayed diagnosis and adverse effects of antiTB therapy were observed in the extrapulmonary TB group While SLE patients commonly present with prolonged fever or chronic cough tuberculosis infection should be taken into consideration
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